Client Director, Sponsorship & Consultancy

We are looking for a Client Director to join the MKTG team to work on delivering and implementing some of the most exciting collaborations in Sport and Entertainment. As a Client Director in Sponsorship + Consultancy, your role is to provide strategic recommendations and manage all resources to ensure the client’s needs are met. You will support your Business Directors and VPs in delivery on accounts, managing the capabilities and team to ensure on‑time delivery and excellence in execution. You are viewed as a trusted advisor to the client and play a key role in developing your team.

We are looking for an experienced Client Director to lead an account team and set the direction on activating two global F1 team partnerships. This role will be responsible for leading and managing the EU client relationships, activation plans, projects and client servicing team for a leading global financial services brand. This role will require strong knowledge of sponsorships and partnerships in sport. Formula 1 experience is advantageous but not mandatory; we are looking for a first‑class operator that can understand our clients business across the financial services and payment sector.

The candidate will demonstrate experienced leadership and management of a dynamic client account, exceptional relationship management across client and rights holders and provide senior counsel, forward‑thinking and strategic solutions to set the direction and maximise rights, activations and value for the client. This role will report into the Senior Vice President, Consulting and is based in London.

• Client Servicing / Account Management
  • Build trusted senior‑level client relationships (above day‑to‑day client contacts interacting with Client Managers)
  • Lead and direct the client relationships, acting as a pro‑active partner who anticipates needs
  • Understand your client’s business and the wider industry competitor set
  • Know what makes your clients tick, how to make them stand out and support them in achieving marketing goals
  • Lead by example on client service excellence
  • Have full ownership and accountability for client activation budgets
• Project Management
  • Oversee and direct the client team to effectively and efficiently manage retained client work and project work
  • Hold overall responsibility for ensuring the project delivers above client expectations
  • Be accountable for the client team setting timelines, expectations, and meeting deadlines
  • Manage resources across the client team and upscale pinch points, resource requirements and resource solutions
• Administration
  • Ensure your client teams are completing timesheets to accurately report time spent on client retainers and projects
  • Report on account time on a monthly basis, working closely with Business Directors, VPs and SVPs
  • Have oversight and be accountable for money in and out of client activation jobs, accurately budget, reconcile and report on client budgets
• New Business & Marketing
  • Play an important role in new logo growth across the agency by directing new business briefs/project
  • Play an integral role in pitch teams
  • Participate in regular thought leadership in written, presentation and verbal format
  • Represent the agency at webinars and conferences and seek opportunities to do so
• Self‑Development
  • Be knowledgeable about the industry and strive for expertise
  • Ensure you understand and can confidently present sponsorship processes
  • Be curious and focus on personal development through team management and leadership training
• People Management
  • Act as a mentor and coach to direct reports to help them develop in their role and career, promoting an inclusive environment where everyone’s voice can be heard
  • Provide regular on‑the‑go feedback and regular structured 1:1s focusing on performance
  • Discuss and agree clear performance objectives and L&D opportunities, which supports both the business and your direct reports’ personal ambitions, identifying areas of strengths and weaknesses
• Culture & Values
  • Lead key culture initiatives and demonstrate the importance of our culture & values to the junior team

• Previous F1 experience advantageous and strong knowledge of sponsorships and partnerships
• Proven, consistent experience in marketing either agency side, client side or with a rights holder
• Proven, consistent experience working on sports and entertainment sponsorships and activation programmes
• Experience working with brands in the financial services / payment sector
• Leading by example in client servicing excellence
• Good understanding of brand ambassador management
• Good understanding of the wider marketing landscape
• Superstar project management skills
• Strategic and logical thinker who can provide counsel to our clients and suppliers in delivering best‑in‑class solutions
• Acumen to look at business performance for our clients and how this can be measured to make sponsorship assets more accountable
• Team mentality, building high‑performing teams both through line management and brilliant project work

Location: London

Brand: Mktg Sports

Time Type: Full time

Contract Type: Permanent

Inclusion & Diversity: At Dentsu, we embrace diversity and inclusion, valuing the unique perspectives and contributions of every individual. We believe that diversity fuels creativity and innovation, benefiting our employees, partners, and communities. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic. Beyond recruitment, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. We recognise the importance of work‑life balance and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements for all roles. If you need reasonable adjustments due to a disability or medical condition during our recruitment process, please contact us at accommodations@dentsu.com, quoting the reference number of the role that you are applying for. Your needs will be handled with respect and confidentiality to ensure an inclusive and accessible experience.

This job description is a summary of the essential functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder might differ from those outlined in the job description. Other duties, as assigned by the supervisor, might be part of the job.